Ky. Rev. Stat. » Chapter 527
Kentucky Revised Statutes

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 527.100 (2026)

Possession of handgun by minor

✓ current as of May 2026
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(1) A person is guilty of possession of a handgun by a minor when, being under the age of eighteen (18) years, he possesses, manufactures, or transports a handgun as defined by KRS 527.010, except when the person is:

(a) In attendance at a hunter's safety course or a firearms safety course;

(b) Engaging in practice in the use of a firearm, or target shooting at an established firing range, or any other area where the discharge of a firearm is not prohibited;

(c) Engaging in an organized competition involving the use of a firearm, or participating in or practicing for a performance by a group organized under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or any successor thereto which uses firearms as a part of the performance;

(d) Hunting or trapping pursuant to a valid license issued to him pursuant to the statutes or administrative regulations of this Commonwealth;

(e) Traveling to or from any activity described in paragraphs (a) to (d) of this subsection with any unloaded handgun in his possession;

(f) On real property which is under the control of an adult and has the permission of that adult and his parent or legal guardian to possess a handgun; or

(g) At his residence and with the permission of his parent or legal guardian possesses a handgun and is justified under the principles of justification set forth in KRS Chapter 503 in using physical force or deadly physical force.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section, a handgun is "loaded" if:

(a) There is a cartridge in the chamber of the handgun; or

(b) There is a cartridge in the cylinder of the handgun, if the handgun is a revolver; or

(c) There is a cartridge in the magazine of a semiautomatic handgun, if the magazine is attached to the handgun; or

(d) The handgun and the ammunition for the handgun, are carried on the person of one under the age of eighteen (18) years or are in such close proximity to him that he could readily gain access to the handgun and the ammunition and load the handgun.

(3) Possession of a handgun by a minor is a Class A misdemeanor for the first offense and a Class D felony for each subsequent offense. Effective: July 15, 1994 History: Created 1994 Ky. Acts ch. 30, sec. 1, effective July 15, 1994.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases, 1999–2016 · leading case: Taylor v. Commonwealth, 995 S.W.2d 355 (Ky. 1999).
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Taylor v. Commonwealth, 995 S.W.2d 355 (Ky. 1999). · cites it 4× “Furthermore, conviction of this offense requires proof only that the weapon was a handgun, as defined in KRS 527.”
T & M JEWELRY, INC. v. Hicks Ex Rel. Hicks, 189 S.W.3d 526 (Ky. 2006). · cites it 3× “See KRS 527.100 — .110. Whether the policy behind these statutes is the correct choice is irrelevant to our analysis.”
Posey v. Commonwealth, 185 S.W.3d 170 (Ky. 2006). · cites it 2× “020 (making it unlawful to possess firearms or other weapons on school property); KRS 527.100 (prohibiting the possession of handguns by minors).”
Perkins v. Commonwealth, 511 S.W.3d 380 (Ky. Ct. App. 2016). “KRS 527.100, a Class A misdemeanor. . Caldwell v.”
Stout v. Commonwealth, 44 S.W.3d 781 (Ky. Ct. App. 2000). “KRS 527.100. 4 . KRS 520.090. 5 . The discovery of Stout's fingerprints in another stolen vehicle recovered by police earlier in May 1997, linked Stout to yet another vehicle related crime of receiving stolen property.”
— Ky. Rev. Stat. § 527.100(1) — 2 cases
Taylor v. Commonwealth, 995 S.W.2d 355 (Ky. 1999). “Furthermore, conviction of this offense requires proof only that the weapon was a handgun, as defined in KRS 527.”
T & M JEWELRY, INC. v. Hicks Ex Rel. Hicks, 189 S.W.3d 526 (Ky. 2006). “See KRS 527.100 — .110. Whether the policy behind these statutes is the correct choice is irrelevant to our analysis.”
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